Oregano has a long legacy in traditional medicine from Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia. Hippocrates recommended it as an antiseptic and a treatment for gastrointestinal and respiratory ailments. A spate of recent research shows that the herb can inhibit a number of human pathogens including Staphylococcus, Salmonella and Aspergillus.

All this "Listeria Hysteria" that followed the reports of contaminated cantaloupe reminds me of a Twilight Zone episode. We're destroying a relatively healthy food by the ton, and scaring an already scared public, without taking stock of what's really going on. Blaming cantaloupe is an example of shooting the messenger, if ever I saw one.

FlaxMilk, the latest entry into the growing market for non-dairy "milk" products, provides a convenient and delicious way for patients (and their doctors, of course!) to get the healthful benefits of milled flax seed into their diets.

Flax Seed: A Woman's "Breast Friend Forever"

By Robert Pendergrast, MD - Vol. 12, No. 3. Fall , 2011

There are many foods that can contribute to a breast-healthy diet. In his effort to help family members and patients dealing with breast cancer, Dr. Robert Pendergrast has reviewed them all. His conclusion? Flax seed is one of the best. It's a cornerstone for breast cancer prevention, and should become every woman's "BFF" ("Breast Friend Forever").

Ginger is widely available, safe, inexpensive, and, it turns out, one of the best possible remedies for pregnancy-associated nausea. A new clinical trial involving nearly 70 women, shows that at a dose of 250 mg, four times daily, ginger is highly effective in controlling nausea and reducing vomiting.

The Energetics of Foods for Health and Healing

Biomedical science has reduced foods to the sum of their calories and micronutrients. While it is important to understand the biochemistry of what we eat, it is also important to realize that the qualities, colors, textures of our foods and the ways they are cooked play just as much of a role as their "nutrient content" in influencing our health. Traditional Chinese medicine has much to teach us on this subject.

The “No Fat” approach health maintenance makes very little sense, says Dr. David Riley. Rather than focusing on eliminating fat calories, physicians should be counseling patients on how to choose and use healthy, nutritious oils like flax, olive, walnut, macadamia and avocado. A little knowledge of fatty acid science can go a long way in clearing up confusion about “good” versus “bad” fats.

Sweet Tempeh-tation: Making the Most of a Nutritious Soy Food

Much of the controversy over the health benefits or hazards of a soy rich diet arises because people fail to recognize the difference between fermented and unfermented soy. Fermentation ups the beneficia aspects of soy, while minimizing the downsides. Tempeh, a soy cake fermented with Rhizopus mold, is one of the most nutritious and delicious soy foods---one you and your patients should know. Doc Rob, our healthy kitchen guru, offers tips on making tempeh tempting.

There's a reason why nearly all traditional cultures worldwide have some form of fermented food as part of their dietary staples. Unfortunately, in the rush to modernity and "convenience," many people have lost the taste for things like kefir, kimchi, and natto. These and other fermented foods are extremely healthy, providing a rich source of probiotic gut bacteria, which aid digestion, reduce inflammation and promote overall health.

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